Trudeau says he’s doing something in Nunavut he rarely does, reflect on his dad
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok sign the Nunavut devolution agreement in Iqaluit on Thursday. IQALUIT, Nunavut- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s doing something in Nunavut he rarely does in public, which is to reflect on his father. Trudeau is in Iqaluit to mark the signing of an agreement to hand over powers to the territorial government when it comes to their management of land, fresh water and the resources each contain. Joining the prime minister on his trip is his youngest child, nine-year-old Hadrien, whom Trudeau pointed out during a signing ceremony before Inuit and other territorial leaders Thursday, reflecting on how his late father brought him to the region as a kid. Trudeau acknowledged the impact those trips had on his life, saying they...
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Too many ‘tragic ends’: First Nations call for public inquiry into justice system
By John Chilibeck Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Chief George Ginnish says he’s seen too many of his people thrown in jail. The leader from Natoaganeg (Eel Ground First Nation) in eastern New Brunswick blames a criminal justice system that he says is stacked against Indigenous people, part of the legacy of colonialism and racism. “I’ve seen so many times youngsters go plead guilty to a charge that will follow them around because there are no First Nations court workers to help them,” said Ginnish, who’s also co-chair of Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc., an organization representing most Mi’kmaq communities in New Brunswick. “They’re going into a justice system that provides them no supports. We’ve got so many of our people that live under the poverty line, how can they afford representation to...
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Edmonton Policy On Dismantling Encampments Causes Continual Trauma To Indigenous People
By Kinnukana Local Journalism Initiative Reporter In the midst of extreme cold temperatures in Alberta, the City of Edmonton is dismantling encampments displacing homeless people, of which many are Indigenous. Eight per cent of Edmonton’s population identifies as Indigenous, while 58 per cent of people experiencing homelessness identify as Indigenous (City of Edmonton, 2016 Homeless Count). That is a gross overrepresentation of Indigenous people in Edmonton’s homeless population. The removal of these encampments raises many concerns by social advocates about the violation of Indigenous rights, cultural displacement, and homelessness. The Coalition for Justice and Human Rights wants camp clearing to stop citywide if certain conditions are not met and have filed a lawsuit against the City. The City’s policy is to remove every high risk camp with twenty or more...
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University of Alberta Indigenous association hosts talk on how to confront residential school denialism
By Shari Narine Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Benjamin Kucher, president of the Indigenous Graduate Students’ Association (ISGA) at the University of Alberta, says denialism about the harmful legacy of Indian residential schools has picked up. He doesn’t have to go far to illustrate his point. As the association prepares to host University of Manitoba historian and Indigenous Studies assistant professor Sean Carleton on Thursday to speak to that denialism, Frances Widdowson, who was let go in 2021 by Calgary’s Mount Royal University for voicing residential school denialism, will be giving a “chat” that same day entitled “Academic Freedom Under Threat.” Kucher, who is a member of the Metis Nation of Alberta and anthropology student, says any number of emotions_disappointment, disillusionment and disgust_have been voiced by him and other members of the...
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Federal government announces $8.2 million in housing funding for Membertou First Nation
By Mitchell Ferguson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter MEMBERTOU- New housing is coming for residents of Membertou. In an announcement on Wednesday, Sydney-Victoria MP Jaime Battiste, speaking on behalf of Sean Fraser, minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, joined Terry Paul, chief and CEO of Membertou, to unveil funding of $8.2 million in funds for Membertou First Nation provided through the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI). Membertou First Nation has been granted approval and funding to construct 32 new modular single-family homes. This development comes after an additional investment of $1.5 billion by the federal government into the RHI program, catapulting the program’s total budget to $4 billion. “In July 2024, we will officially welcome 32 new homes through this RHI,” said Paul. “This will be, without a...
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Krawczyk Family Foundation kicks in for environment court challenges
By Marc Lalonde Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A massive donation from a non-profit foundation will “breathe new life” into environmental legal challenges led by Indigenous people across the country, the director of the RAVEN foundation said Tuesday. The $2 million donation comes courtesy of the Krawczyk Family Foundation and will support those legal challenges by RAVEN, which stands for Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs. The organization raises funds for legal challenges brought by Indigenous communities when government or industry gets in the way of their responsibilities as stewards of their territories. “Supporting the inherent and constitutionally protected rights of Indigenous peoples is a powerful pathway towards reconciliation and environmental justice,” said RAVEN executive director Danielle Wilson, herself a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation on Vancouver Island. “Governments and corporations...
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heads to Nunavut for signing on transfer of powers
By Stephanie Taylor THE CANADIAN PRESS IQALUIT, Nunavut- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Nunavut today to participate in a signing ceremony about transferring responsibilities for public lands and resources to the territory from the federal government. Ottawa says it represents the largest land transfer in Canada’s history and Nunavut’s premier says the agreement means it is taking one more historic step “towards the vision of a self-reliant” territory. In 2019, Trudeau’s then-Crown-Indigenous relations minister, Carolyn Bennett, signed an agreement-in-principle with Nunavut’s then-premier intended to serve as a guide for negotiating a final agreement. Nunavut was created as its own territory in 1999 and it entered the process of gaining control over its lands and resources in 2008 by signing a negotiation protocol with former prime minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative...
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Work On Ojibwe Translation Of `Star Wars: A New Hope’ Begins In Early 2024
By Jeremy Appel Local Journalism Initiative Reporter An Ojibwe version of Star Wars: A New Hope could be coming soon to a theatre near you. On Dec. 18, the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council and University of Manitoba announced that they’ve entered a partnership with Disney/Lucasfilm and APTN to create an official Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) version of the first Star Wars film. Auditions for voice actors will occur in Winnipeg in early-2024, where script translations and sound recording will also take place. Sound mixing and post-production will happen at Skywalker Sound near Nicasio, California. The finished film is intended to have a limited theatrical run across Canada and air on APTN following its Winnipeg premiere. Maeengan Linklater, director of operations for Dakota Ojibway, is overseeing the project as its lead. In a news...
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Don’t blame us, Hajdu says of Chretien era effort to soften UN’s Indigenous language
By Alessia Passafiume THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA-The current federal Liberal government is trying to distance itself from the one that reportedly conspired with Australia to weaken United Nations language on Indigenous Peoples in the early 2000s. Newly released Australian cabinet documents from 2003 show the two countries worked together on putting forward a softer version of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The declaration spells out Indigenous rights, including self-determination, language and cultural preservation, prohibits forced removal from lands or territories and requires states to consult with Indigenous Peoples. The idea of a more state-friendly version originated with Jean Chretien’s Liberal government, the documents say, and was backed by Australia at the time. Every Liberal government is different, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu told The Canadian Press,...
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“We Remain Certain”, a Haudenosaunee art exhibit of land rights along the Grand River
By Lisa Iesse Writer HAMILTON – An exhibit, titled “We Remain Certain” brings together artists, activists and academics from across the Haudenosaunee community. “By showing contemporary art, it shows how (Haudenosaunee teachings) are living in all of us. It’s living in the artists. You can see the common themes and the way the different artists incorporate and express our culture. I think it really demonstrates that we’re a living and vibrant people, a vibrant culture where all of this is shared amongst,” Courtney Skye told Turtle Island News at the exhibit’s opening on January 11 at McMaster’s museum of art in Hamilton. Skye is Mohawk Turtle Clan from Six Nations, and is the co-director of Protect the Tract who curated the exhibit. Protect the Tract is a Haudenosaunee-led initiative conducting...
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SNEC staff to attend IESO meetings after councillors refuse
It appears Six Nations may be wary of getting too involved when it comes to the Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO). Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) tried to find councillors to attend online information sessions being held by the IESO on January 15 or 17. But not one of the 12 councillors volunteered at its Jan., 9th General Council meeting. Nathan Wright, CEO explained the meeting relates to what IESO does, its programs, how they are running and how they could support First Nations better and drum up interest. “The IESO is embarking on – at least they have been over the last 20 years, upon the process for Indigenous engagement. This is part of that strategy to start doing a bunch of engagement with the First Nations community,” he...
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Norfolk County taking new shot at “Indigenous acknowledgement”
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Fear of a potential lawsuit or land claim has Norfolk’s latest version of a proposed “Indigenous acknowledgement” leaving out any reference to land and the First Nations connected to it including the Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. At Norfolk County’s December 19th council meeting, Councillor Tom Masschaele urged it was council’s “duty” to implement an “Indigenous acknowledgment” as a way to “work toward truth and reconciliation — not just on Orange Shirt Day, but every day.” Norfolk County is right next door to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), and Six Nations (the most populous First Nation in the country). Other counties bordering Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) do practise Indigenous land acknowledgments. Brant County...
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K/G school board asks SNEC to guarantee $25 million loan
The Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary School has a chance to fund the construction of a new school, but it can’t do it unless the Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) backs the school. Ruby Jacobs, a member of the board for Gaweni:yo plead the school’s case once again at the Six Nations Elected Council’s (SNEC) General Finance meeting on January 15. She told council CIBC is willing to loan the school $25 million, but the bank will only provide the loan if SNEC comes on board to service the debt. “This is where council has to look at it from the point of getting it done,” She said. “You’re elected to fight for the people. If you think we got the dialysis unit by just waiting for them or the birthing...
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SNEC extended Christmas holiday may be going after complaints
The landfill site was closed. You couldn’t pay a water bill or get your septic tank emptied. Six Nations Elected Council SNEC) found itself the centre of community complaints when it shut down the entire band administration for a two-week holiday over Christmas. Now, back at work with band departments opened SNEC faced the issue at its Jan., 9th meeting saying in light of the complaints, it is considering cancelling its two-week holiday closure at Christmas time. Councillors talked about looking into keeping the or ganization open over the holidays and instead offering employees more mental wellness days in lieu of the two-week closure employees now enjoy. The conversation comes after local residents experienced issues over the break that required SNEC staff or departments to address, but no one was...
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Six Nations drone show – costs mean only one more showing
By Lisa Iesse Writer SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND – Friendship Walks organisers say despite the hard work invested in the Six Nations drone show, it will be shown just one last time due to the high costs of presenting it. TAP resources (an event management firm in Six Nations) is the company that organized Six Nations drone show. It was created to be shown at the Friendship Walks, which took place over three days in September along the Haldimand Tract. The walks celebrated the crucial role of Six Nations people in Canada’s history and the present. 1784’s Haldimand Tract Proclamation acknowledged Six Nations territories six miles deep along each side of the Grand River. Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald, president and lead project manager of TAP Resources explained the role of the...
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Six Nations Fire getting new rescue truck
Six Nations will receive an additional light rescue fire truck. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved the purchase of the four-door Extreme Tactical Sawtooth at the General Finance meeting on January 15, after deferring the motion from the December 12 meeting. The truck was originally due for purchase in 2021 with the funds to cover the $366,574 truck coming from 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 Minor Capital funds. Crystal Farmer, assistant fire chief, told SNEC the department received the first invoice in December for $183,287, but SNEC deferred the motion to “clarify the numbers.” Now the entire cost needs to be paid. Councillor Dayle Bomberry pointed out the department doesn’t have the full amount ready to go, and asked if they had found the additional funds to purchase the vehicle. The fire...
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HCCC work stopped Canada’s move to melt down UNDRIP
Secrets always surface. Especially government secrets. And when it comes to the Rights of Indigenous People recently released Australian government documents from 2003 reveal it was Canada itself that led the parade to weaken any draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The two countries, home to large Indigenous populations, had worked together in secret to weaken the draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Australian cabinet records from the early 2000’s show it was Canada under the Chrétien Liberal government that took the lead, with the support of Australia, to water-down UNDRIP and use the weakened version as a pressure tactic against Indigenous leaders, including the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council, (HCCC). Indigenous leaders who wouldn’t budge on their original 1993 draft, the records showed....
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Cabinet papers: Howard government worked with Canada to oppose UN declaration on Indigenous rights
By Daniel Hurst @danielhurstbne The Guardian Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard’s government fought strongly against recognizing the right of Indigenous peoples to “self-determination” and worked secretly with Canada to try to change a draft UN declaration, newly released cabinet papers show. The cabinet papers from 2003, released by the National Archives on Monday, show that some Australian government departments held concerns about potential impacts of the UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples, but Australia’s talks with Canada on amendments were being pursued with “no Indigenous consultation about the process or its product” as such input would be “premature”. John Howard’s government ultimately opposed the declaration when it was adopted by the UN general assembly in 2007, with 143 countries voting in favour and just four –...
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Newly elected chief provides welcoming at Leafs’ Indigenous Celebration Game
By Sam Laskaris Writer TORONTO – Claire Sault is a casual hockey fan. But the recently elected chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation found herself on the ice prior to a National Hockey League contest this past Saturday. There was no need, however, for Sault to display her skating, stickhandling or shooting abilities. That’s because Sault was asked to deliver a welcoming at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second annual Indigenous Celebration Game. “It was a very huge honour for me to do that,” Sault said of her on-ice appearance at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. “It’s important in our territory that we elevate our First Nation and that people understand that whole history.” Sault said she wasn’t nervous welcoming the spectators and participants to the game. More than 19,000...
